Three years on from parading a Division Two champion, Manchester United unveiled a two-time Champions League winner. David Moyes struggled to convince he belonged at Manchester United during his Q&A with the media in Old Trafford's Europa Suite but Jose Mourinho exuded the conviction and arrogance of a United manager, engaging his audience like a President Obama address from the White House.

From the chastened one to the chatty one. Mourinho spoke for 28 minutes and 30 seconds, offering uplifting rallying cries for United supporters and siding with them in their abhorrence to Louis van Gaal's football. He expressed his frustration at no Champions League football, something United might have avoided had they appointed him in December last year, there was a rigorous commitment to United's youth identity, aggressive football and the promise of a fourth signing. On first impressions, this was as accomplished as Sean Connery's introduction in Dr. No .

This was what United needed. A man who was "aggressive in my approach with the risks... I prefer to be more aggressive. I want everything." He will not be settling with 'fighting' for fourth and the Europa League.

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They had to open up an adjoining room for Mourinho's homecoming at Chelsea three years ago but there were fewer Mourinho scarf sellers than there were for some United games last season on the adjoining roads leading to Old Trafford. Warwick Road, Sir Matt Busby Way and Sir Alex Ferguson Way were deserted, with the exception of a handful of tourists milling around on the concourse, staring goggle-eyed at Sir Matt Busby's and the Trinity's statues before venturing into the Megastore. Mourinho 'knows the history' of United but does not seem intimidated by it.

Mourinho is invariably happy to do most of the talking during press conferences and is often generous with his time. "How much longer do we have?" he asked the press officer. "Five minutes." It wasn't enough for us and Mourinho appeared prepared to stay longer.

Mourinho speaks during his first Manchester United press conference

"Where are you, my friend?" he called out after failing to spot one journalist that took the mic. Another writer from London was greeted warmly at the conference's conclusion before a rush towards the front caused someone to spill water over Mourinho's list of the 49 academy players he had promoted to the first-team at his previous clubs. Benitez had his facts sheet and Mourinho had his own, less dubious list.

Mourinho emerged fresh from striding onto the Old Trafford turf and inspecting the view from the home dugout. His entrance was so spontaneous some photographers missed their cue and there was such an eagerness about Mourinho he was wearing a tracksuit rather than a suit, as he prepared to outline his vision - and divorce himself from his predecessor.

Mourinho hit all the right notes

A Van Gaal graduate, Mourinho renounced the Dutchman's dogmatic preaching and aimed such brutal jabs at Van Gaal he did not have to administer a knockout blow.

"I was never very good playing with the words or hiding behind words and hiding behind philosophies," Mourinho remarked. Some journalists giggled quietly. Van Gaal lauded 'multi-functional' players but they are not to Mourinho's liking. "I am more a manager that likes specialists and not so much the multi-functional players," he clarified. The players, in case they missed his MUTV interview in May, were told again to 'forget' the last three years. Mourinho might as well have likened Moyes to Wilf McGuinness and Van Gaal to Dave Sexton.

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Mourinho looked well. Tanned from a holiday to the Maldives and a six-month sabbatical, there was no lethargy in his delivery. He was direct, thoughtful, wry and yet determined. His rhetoric is so impressive Pep Guardiola backed down in Spain and the new City manager was not even in Mourinho's firing line.

"There are some managers that the last time they won a title was 10 years ago," Mourinho observed when asked if he had a point to prove. He did not even give Arsene Wenger the decency of getting the length of his drought correct (it's 12). While United's and Arsenal's rivalry is unlikely to ignite like it did between 1997 and 2005, Mourinho has an unbeaten record against Wenger in competitive matches to maintain.

Mourinho proved a hit with fans after his confident performance

Two years ago, Van Gaal stressed: "I do not want players to be intuitive." Mourinho was not that dictatorial, but he had a dosage of reality for reinvented midfielder and captain Wayne Rooney.

"Playing 50 metres from the goal. You can tell me his pass is amazing but my pass is also amazing without pressure," Mourinho scotched. "For me he will be a 9, a 10, a nine and a half but never a six or an eight." Moyes' clumsy phraseology during pre-season three years ago left Rooney 'angry and confused' and he might be feeling similarly now.

Mourinho poses with the United shirt

"This challenge doesn’t make me nervous," Mourinho insisted. Moyes looked so in thrall to Sir Alex Ferguson at his press conference he uttered 'Sir Alex' on 11 occasions. Mourinho revealed he had been told to bring an umbrella by the United great and promised he will share a bottle of wine with him when he returns from his holiday in France, but the bonhomie was brief. Mourinho did not have to rely on Ferguson's charity.